Longitudinal folding device

ABSTRACT

A longitudinal folding device for paper webs includes at least two hopper flanks. A paper deflection device encompasses the hopper flanks in a shell-like manner. The paper deflection device is supported by a machine frame and is electrically insulated from the machine frame. The paper deflection device may be connected to one or more vibrators or beaters.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to longitudinal folding devices in aprinting press. The longitudinal folding device has at least two hopperflanks. A paper deflection device encloses the longitudinal foldingdevice.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

A gluing device, for example a transverse gluing device, has becomeknown from EP 0 477 769 B1.

A device has become known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,169,082, by which aplurality of U-shaped cuts are made in two paper webs resting on top ofeach other in such a way that the two paper webs are hooked together.

DE-AS 12 73 483 discloses a method and a device for stapling togethertongues of several writing and carbon printing paper webs placed on topof each other.

Devices for stitching by means of thread have become known from DE 19523 812 A1 and DE 19 31 337 C, for example.

To positively lock several paper webs by an electrostatic charge hasbecome known, for example, from DE 31 17 419 A1 and WO 98/43904.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,827,166 discloses an arrangement for connecting twocigarette paper webs (so-called “cold welding”) by a beadingarrangement.

A device for drawing in webs of material in web-fed rotary printingpresses has become known from DE 22 41 127 C. A finite traction means,for example in the form of a traction chain, is used. The traction chainhas a lateral hooking device for the start of a paper web. The length ofthe traction chain has been selected to be such that it approximatelycorresponds to a distance over which a paper web maximally runs in aprint unit. Several electromechanical drive mechanisms, which aresynchronized with each other, act simultaneously on the traction chainin order to move it along a guide device. Switchable shunts permitchanges in the direction of the traction chain. Storage tubes areemployed for keeping the traction chain safe.

A stapling device for stapling several paper webs outside of a foldingapparatus has become known from DE 11 89 562.

EP 0 533 042 A1 shows a roller for guiding paper webs, having an annulargroove as a traction means.

The later published WO 00/10808 discloses a reinforcement element for adraw-in tip of a paper web with spikes penetrating the paper web.

CH-PS 342 241 describes a permanently acting conveying device for finitesheets of paper.

A device for the automatic feeding of a start of a paper web is knownfrom DE 196 12 924 A1. The paper web is guided by means of endlessdriven conveyor belts over turning bars or a folding hopper.

WO 99/47446 and EP 0 415 077 A1 disclose devices for longitudinalfolding having paper deflection means.

DE 27 54 179 A discloses a longitudinal folding device wherein the sidesof the paper web are electrostatically charged by means of rollers inorder to prevent fluttering.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is based on providing a longitudinalfolding device.

The object is attained in accordance with the present invention byproviding a longitudinal folding device that has at least two hopperflanks. A paper deflection device encloses the longitudinal foldingdevice. The paper deflection device can be supported, in an electricallyinsulated manner by the machine's frame. The longitudinal folding hoppermay be connected to a high voltage source. The paper deflection devicecan also be connected to one or more vibrators or beaters.

The advantages which can be realized by the present invention reside, inparticular, in that the paper web traction can take place, for exampleover the folding hopper and past it, through the gap between the hopperfolding rollers as far as a downstream connected unit, such as draw-inrollers, transverse folding apparatus, etc. Draw-in times can beconsiderably reduced. In connection with the employment for draw-in viaa longitudinal folding hopper, it is possible to avoid the manualdraw-in, which contains the danger of accidents, of the paper webs, orof a train, into the hopper folding rollers which, for example, havealready been brought into rotation by hand.

Furthermore, no special draw-in tip is necessary.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the present inventions are represented in thedrawings and will be described in greater detail in What follows.

Shown are in:

FIG. 1, a front view of a folding hopper with driven, belt-shaped ortoothed belt-shaped traction means, which are moved along a hopperinsertion plate, deflected at the hopper flanks and are finally movedalong the hopper flank plates before they are conducted into the insideof the longitudinal folding hopper in front of the hopper foldingrollers,

FIG. 2, a lateral view in accordance with FIG. 1, but without lateralframes, with a schematic representation of the drive mechanism of anendless or finite traction means with spikes acting together with apushing device for pushing the paper webs, or a locked-together train,on the spikes,

FIG. 3, a cross section taken along line III—III through a guide deviceof a belt-shaped traction means in the shape of a belt or toothed beltin accordance with FIG. 1, the section rotated by 90°,

FIG. 4, a longitudinal section taken along line IV—IV through the guidedevice in the shape of a belt or toothed belt in accordance with FIG. 3,

FIG. 5, a lateral view of a belt-shaped, or toothed belt-shaped tractionmeans in the shape of a belt or toothed belt with a plurality of spikes,

FIG. 6, a view from above on the traction means in FIG. 5,

FIG. 7, an example of a pressure roller of a pushing device in section,

FIG. 8, a lateral view of a finite or endless traction means in the formof a roller chain with spikes,

FIG. 9, a view from above on the traction means in accordance with FIG.8,

FIG. 10, a front view of the traction means in accordance with FIG. 8,

FIG. 11, a representation of a guide device (in section) fastened on anunderside of an insertion plate, with a roller chain member with a spikefastened thereon, and a support block for supporting the spike whilepaper webs, or a train, are threaded on,

FIG. 12, a perspective representation of several traction means members,each having a spike, in a guide device.

FIG. 13, a longitudinal folding hopper with mechanically driven hopperfolding rollers, a driven insertion roller, a slide plate for guidingpaper webs, or a locked-together train, hopper flank plates and paperguide devices at a distance therefrom; finite or endless traction meansconducted along the center line of the slide plate, the insertionroller, the longitudinal folding hopper. Spikes, projecting out of alongitudinal slit in the slide plate, hopper insertion plate and agroove of the insertion roller. Paper webs, or a locked-together train,threaded on the spikes, with the representation of electric insulatorsfor use in connection with the electrostatic positive locking ofindividual paper webs to form a locked-together train, and selectivelyadditional device;

FIG. 14, a schematic representation of devices for positively lockingseveral paper webs to form a locked-together train by using rotating,roller-shaped charge electrodes for electrostatic positive locking.Furthermore, an alternative device for positively locking the materialsby contact with the use of adhesives for positively locking severalpaper webs by contact to form a locked-together train. Moreover, anoptionally usable device for generating mechanical oscillations(vibrations) of the guide device for the paper webs, or of thelocked-together train, at the longitudinal folding hopper,

FIG. 15, a device for connecting the material by contact of two paperwebs placed on top of each other by beading,

FIG. 16, a schematic representation of a drive mechanism for a hammerroller (beading roller),

FIG. 17, a section taken along line XVII—XVII in FIG. 16,

FIG. 18, a tongue-stitching device in a schematic view for creating apositively locked paper train from a plurality of paper webs,

FIG. 19, a stapling device with metal staples in a schematic view forcreating a locked-together train from several paper webs,

FIG. 20, a thread-sealing device in a schematic representation forcreating a positively locked connection of several paper webs to form alocked-together train,

FIG. 21, an elongated guide device, which can be moved back and forth ona hopper insertion plate, intended for the circulation of an endless orof one or several finite driven traction means, whose spikes in the areaof the hopper insertion plate are oriented toward the latter, for thepurpose of conveying individual or several paper webs or of alocked-together train arriving on the hopper insertion plate,

FIG. 22, a schematic representation of a device for driving and guidingfinite traction means with spikes, which project, at least at times,into the path of paper webs, or of a locked-together train, through alongitudinal slit of a guide plate (operative guidance) and thread them,having an additional circulating storage device for the endless tractionmeans, wherein the operative guidance and the storage guidance can beconnected with each other, or tested, by means of controllable shunts,

FIG. 23, a device for generating a clamping pressure between severalpaper webs placed on top of each other and a traction means, and/or forpushing the paper webs, which have been placed on top of each other, onspikes, and a drive mechanism for traction means for finite or endlesstraction means with or without spikes,

FIG. 24, a guide device for finite or endless traction means with orwithout spikes, arranged below a running plate on a guide support. Theguide support can be moved in and opposite to the running plate in sucha way that, when using traction means without spikes, the traction meansitself or, when using traction means with spikes, the spikes arearranged so that they can be brought through a longitudinal slit in therunning plate into a position above the sliding surface of the runningplate, i.e. into the path of the paper webs, or of the trains,

FIG. 25, spikes which can be raised and lowered and are fastened ontraction means,

FIG. 26, spikes in an upright position, which are fastened pivotably(tiltably) on traction means,

FIG. 27, a section taken along line XXVII—XXVII in FIG. 26,

FIG. 28, spikes, which are fastened pivotably (tiltably) on tractionmeans and are pivoted (tilted) in the draw-in direction,

FIG. 29, a section taken along line XXIX—XXIX in FIG. 28,

FIG. 30, a stationary, extended guide device arranged below a runningplate, intended for the circulation of an endless, or of one or severaldriven traction means with pivotable spikes, and an arrangement for“pivoting/tilting” and return into the upright position of thepivoted/tilted spikes,

FIG. 31, an arrangement for “pivoting/tilting” and “return into theupright position” of the spikes, wherein the arrangement acts on thereturn path;

FIG. 32, the arrangement in accordance with FIG. 31, but in the “returninto the upright position” working position, and in

FIG. 33, a roller, which can be divided in the axial direction andplaced on a passage (insertion roller or hopper folding roller).

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

One or several paper webs 05, 06, 07, 12, or a train 08, 140, alreadyformed from one or several paper webs, run into a so-called path ortrain pre-entry device 111. It ends shortly in front of a hopperinsertion roller 16 and is of sufficient length for being able todependably take over arriving, pulled or pushed paper webs 05, 06, 07,12, or a train 08, 140, from the respective draw-in devices.

The paper webs 05, 06, 07, 12, or the train 08, 140, are drawn-in bymeans of paper web draw-in devices, known per se, as far as the path ortrain pre-entry device 111, and are subsequently conveyed on. In thefinal phase of this draw-in process, the paper webs, or the train, areseparated from the paper web front fastenings, which respectively holdthem. Such a separating device, not represented, consists for example ofa rotating top and bottom cutter, between which the paper webs/train aredrawn. After cutting off the paper web fronts, or train fronts, thefinite draw-in chains are conducted into a storage device in guide railsfixed to the frame.

The path or train pre-entry device 1111 (FIG. 1) essentially consists ofa left lateral frame 113 and a right lateral frame 114, between which aslide plate 11, for example oriented horizontally, or inclined at anangle α (for example 30°) in respect to the horizontal in the directionof the paper web running direction, and fixed on the lateral frames, isarranged. This slide plate can have a closed sliding face (upper face),but can also be designed in open work, for example grid-shaped. Itspurpose is to prevent the arriving paper webs 05, 06, 07, 12, or thetrain 08, from falling through downward, or to support the respectivelysingle webs conveyed by one or several draw-in system(s) long enoughuntil they are grasped by a driven combining cylinder or roller 03,seated in the lateral frames 113, 114, and by a pressure cylinder 04, orpressure roller 04, which is in contact with it and is also seated inthe lateral frames 113, 114. At least the combining cylinder/roller 03is driven by an electric motor at a circumferential speed which is equalto, or slightly greater than the paper web draw-in speed set by thepress. The combining cylinder/roller 03 and the pressure cylinder 04, orpressure roller 04, roll off on each other in a slit, or slits, in theslide plate 11. In this case, the combining roller 03 can projectslightly past a slide surface 126 of the slide plate 11. However, thepaper web draw-in process can also terminate, viewed in the direction ofthe paper web running, downstream of the combining roller 03.

In the preferred embodiments described (for example in accordance withFIG. 1), a center running path 121 (if possible) and/or—if required—aleft outer running path 122 and a right outer running path 123, for arespectively finite or endless traction means 33, 34, or 124, start inthe area of the path or train pre-entry device 111.

In the area of the slide plate 11, at least one deflection, or traction,wheel 37, 38 is provided per traction means 33, 34, 124. The rotatingshafts of these deflection, or traction, wheels 37, 38 are locatedunderneath the slide plate 11 and project through slits in the slideplate 11, or their periphery is located below the upper slide surface126, or underneath the slide plate 11. The deflection, or traction,wheels 37, 38 can be designed as pure guide wheels, but also as drivewheels for the traction means 33, 34, 124. If they are used as tractionwheels 37, 38, they are driven by gears or electromechanical,position-controlled individual drive mechanisms in such a way that thetraction means 33, 34, 124 to be respectively driven by them movesynchronously with the preset paper web draw-in speed. The tractionmeans 33, 34, 124 are respectively deflected, or conveyed, or moved-byeach of deflection, or traction, wheels 37, 38 in such a way that amovement of the traction means 33, 34, 124 along the slide plate 11takes place in the provided paper web running direction in the directiontoward the hopper projection 24.

The finite, or endless driven traction means 33, 34, 124 have spikes 35,which are directly fastened on them, are needle-like and are orientedtoward the paper webs, or the train (FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11,12). Deflection or traction wheels 37, 38, and pressure roller(s) 59, 60work together with them. The pressure rollers 59, 60 can each have theirown electric motor 215 (FIG. 23), whose number of revolutions and/orangle of rotation can be controlled. They can be moved against and awayfrom the surface of the deflection, or traction wheel 37, 38, whichworks together with them, by a pneumatic work cylinder 64, fixed on theframe. These pressure rollers 59, 60 are each provided with a recess 63extending over their entire circumference, so that they have a pressuredisk 125, 130 respectively left and right of the recess 63 (FIG. 7). Thepurpose of this respective recess 63 is to assure a passage, free ofdamage, of the spikes 35 through the area of the respective pressureroller 59 assigned to them. Pressure disks 125, 130, respectivelyprovided to the left and right of the recess push the paper webs 05, 06,07, 12, or the train 08, 140, during their passage on the spikes 35, sothat they are dependably threaded. This means that the paper webs 05,06, 07, 12, or more, or the train 08, are positively locked with thetraction means 33, 34, 124 via the spikes 35. By means of coarsesurfaces of the pressure disks 125, 130 it is additionally possible fora force to act on the web(s), or the train 08, through frictionalconnection for moving the webs, or the train, forward in the directiontoward the web, or train, conveying device 112.

The pressure rollers 59, 60 can be made of a hard material, for exampleceramic, metal, or also a hard plastic material. However, they can alsobe made of a softer, rubber-elastic material, or have such a surface.

Viewed in the direction of running of the paper web, the web, or train,conveying device 112 is connected downstream of the web, or train,pre-entry device 111. This web, or train, conveying device 112 has thejob of conveying one or several paper webs 05, 06, 07, 12, or the train08, 140, to a further processing device 116, for example a foldingapparatus. In this case, it is possible to provide a longitudinalcutting device, or a longitudinal folding device 18, acting on the paperwebs, or the train, for example, in the further processing deviceprovided in the area of the web, or train, conveying device 112, butthis is not absolutely necessary.

The web, or train, conveying device 112 essentially consists of a leftlateral frame 117 and a right lateral frame 118, on which the lateralframes 113, 114 of the web, or train, pre-entry device 111 are directlyor indirectly mounted. Driven insertion rollers 16—for example in theform of a hopper insertion roller 16—which are seated in the two lateralframes 113, 114 are provided in the preferred embodiment (FIG. 1, FIG.2, FIG. 13, FIG. 22). The drive of these hopper insertion rollers 16 canbe provided electromechanically by a drive motor 15, whose number ofrevolutions, or position, are controlled. However, it is also possibleto effect driving by means of another mechanical drive mechanism fromthe folding apparatus 116, or from another component. Thecircumferential speeds of the hopper insertion roller 16 aresynchronized with the preset paper web speed by an electronic control,or regulation, or are set in accordance with a preset relationship.Traction rollers, which are placed on the hopper insertion roller(insertion roller) 16, can act together with the latter.

A longitudinal folding hopper 18, which is fixed in the lateral frameand which can be displaced at least in the direction toward the lateralframes 117, 188, is provided as the web, or train, conveying device 112in the exemplary embodiment. The longitudinal folding hopper 18 has ahopper plate 21, which is bordered on both sides by hopper flanks 22,23, which extend at an acute angle toward each other. A hopperprojection 24, which terminates between driven hopper folding rollers26, 27, adjoins the hopper flanks 22, 23.

The two hopper folding rollers 26, 27, which are, for example driven byelectric motors, are respectively seated at a front and a rear hopperfolding roller bracket 28, 29 which, in turn, are respectively arrangedon a folding apparatus frame 31, 32.

When endless or finite traction means 33, 34, 124 are employed, one orseveral traction means drive mechanisms 85 are provided along themovement, or running path 17, 19, 121, 122, 123. They respectivelyconsist of an electric motor 215, whose number of revolutions orposition are controlled, and which has a drive wheel 37, 38, such as apinion gear, chain wheel, etc. (FIG. 23), matched to the traction means33, 34, 124. However, it is also possible to employ so-called rotarycurrent-fed synchronous and/or asynchronous linear motors. These linearmotors can be provided with superimposed d.c current braking. Theprimary element with the coils is arranged fixed on the frame, while thesecondary element, i.e. the element which moves, represents the tractionmeans 33, 34, 124. In this case, it is made of a ferromagnetic material,or of a large proportion of this material.

However, the drive of the traction means 33, 34, 124 can also takeplace, for example, via gears from a synchronous shaft of the paperguidance, or from the downstream connected folding apparatus 116.

One or several traction means drive mechanisms of the type justdescribed can be provided along the movement, or running path 17, 19,121, 122, 123. Otherwise, the respective endless traction means 33, 34,124 are guided by means of guide rollers 43, 44, 47, 48, 49, 50, whichare fixed on the frame, The profiles of the guide rollers 44, 47 to 50have been respectively matched to the side—for example the underside ofthe traction means 33, 34—, on which they act. They can be designed, forexample, as spike wheels, gear wheels, chain wheels, toothed beltpulleys or roller with a guide groove, etc.

The movement, or running paths 17, 19, 121, 122, 123 for the tractionmeans 33, 34, 124 start—viewed opposite the paper running direction—at asufficient distance ahead of the insertion roller 16, for example thehopper insertion roller 16, on the slide plate 11 at a web pickup line20. The web pickup line 20 is to be understood as the line over thewidth of the slide plate 11 at which the respective movement path of thepaper webs, or of the train 08, 140, is intersected on the slide plate11 by the movement path of the end(s) of the tips of the spikes 35. Thepaper webs 05 to 07, 12, or the train 08, 140, which are to be drawninto the folding apparatus 116 via the longitudinal folding hopper 18,are drawn, for example up to the web pickup line 20 or beyond it, eitherby the paper draw-in means respectively assigned to the paper web 05,06, 07, or are pushed in another way—for example by means of clampingrollers—past this web pickup line 20.

The paper webs 05, 06, 07, etc., or the train 08, 140, are pierced bythe spikes 35 of the traction means 33, 34 at the web pickup line 20. Toaid this process, one or several driven or non-driven pressure rollers59, 60 are respectively provided in the movement path of the tips of theneedle-like spikes 35 projecting out of the slide path 11. These rollers59, 60 can have—as already described above—a surface made of arubber-elastic or metallic material, and can have the circumferentialrecess 63 at the place where they work together with the spikes 35 (FIG.7). The dependable threading of the arriving paper webs 05, 06, etc., orof the train 08, 140, on the spikes 35, and therefore on the tractionmeans 33, 34, 124 without damage is intended to be assured by therecess. However, it is also possible to provide rubber-elastic pressurerollers 59, 60 without a circumferential recess 63.

The spikes 35 for endless, or finite, traction means can be provided, atleast at their respective free end 66 facing the paper webs 05, 06, 07,etc., or the train 08,140, with a device which makes stripping off moredifficult, or with a strip-off prevention device 68. This can bedesigned as a profile of the free ends 66 of the spikes 35, for examplein a barb-like manner. For this purpose the free end 66 can consist of aplurality of truncated cones, placed interlockingly on top of eachother, and of an end cone (FIGS. 8 to 12).

However, the free ends can also be designed differently and at leastmake the unintended stripping of the webs 05, 06, 07, 12, or of thetrain 08, 140, off the spikes 35 more difficult. For example, the spikes35 can be without profiles and covered with a material with a highcoefficient of friction which, for example, is very coarse-grained (forexample coarse-grained corundum).

It is possible to provide one, or several, for example two paths 17, 19,121, 122, 123 per longitudinal folding hopper 18, and therewith acorresponding number of finite or infinite traction means 33, 34, 124,87.

If using only a single path 121, it preferably extends along thevertical center line 25 of the longitudinal folding hopper 18 as far asshortly in front of the hopper projection 24, then through an opening inthe hopper insertion plate 21 around a deflection roller 30 behind thehopper plate 21. From there, the path 121 runs over rail guides 80, 88,89 arranged on the back of the hopper insertion plate 21 (with finitetraction means over guide and/or drive rollers, for example 47, 48, 49,50) and finally to the web pickup line 20.

If using several, for example two endless or finite traction means, forexample 33, 34, 124, running parallel next to each other in asynchronized manner, their respective path, for example 17, 19, extendsat a lateral spacing c of several centimeters away from the straightleft lateral edge 45, or the straight right lateral edge 51 of thehopper insertion plate 21. From there, the respective path 17, 19assigned to them leads around the lateral hopper flanks 22, or 23.

The normally provided lateral opening between the left, or right hopperflank 22, 23 and the left hopper folding roller 26, or right foldinghopper 27, respectively assigned to them can be closed off by a lefthopper flank plate 55, fixed on the hopper, and a right hopper flankplate 65, fixed on the hopper (the hopper flank plates 55, 65, ordifferently designed covers of the lateral openings (for example rods,gratings) are also advantageous when moving trains 140, which are lockedtogether in a positively locked manner, by material contact, orfrictionally locked manner, over the longitudinal folding hopper 18).When employing hopper flank plates 55, 65, the moving endless tractionmeans 33, 34 cross through respective openings therein in the vicinityof the hopper folding roller 27, or 28, respectively assigned to themand reach the interior of the folding hopper 18. Finally, the path ofthe endless traction means leads over guide rollers 43, 44, 47, 48, 49,50 to the traction means drive wheel 37 and in the end to the web pickupline 20, etc. Endless belt-shaped traction means 33, 34, 124 can beguided through grooves in a slide face 41 of the former plate 21. Inthis case, a sufficiently large portion of the traction means 33, 34 isdesigned without spikes 35. In the course of the draw-in process, therespective traction means 33, 34 is moved synchronously with thearriving paper web, or paper webs 05, 06, 07, 12, of the train 08, 140,in such a way that only the portion of the endless traction means 33, 34having spikes 35 moves along the hopper plate 21, or over the hoppercheeks 22, 23. Once the paper webs 05 to 07, 12, or the train 08, 140,have reached the driven hopper folding rollers 26, 27 and have beengrasped by them, the traction means 33, 34, 124 are moved in such a waythat finally only the portion of the traction means 33, 34, 124, whichhas no spikes 35, is located on the hopper plate 21 and the hopperflanks 22, 23 and the hopper flank plates 55, 65.

Endless belt-shaped traction belts 33, 34, 124 are respectively drivenvia their upper stringer 36. For example, belt drive wheels 37, 38 areprovided, which have a plurality of take-along pins 39, which worktogether with holes in the traction means 33, 34, 124, for example, formoving it over the hopper insertion rollers 16 and the upper hopperplate 21. In its upper slide face 41, the hopper plate 21 has a groovefor each endless traction means 33, 34, 124.

Endless traction means 33, 34, 124 can also be designed as toothed beltswith spikes 35. In this case, conveying spikes 35 are also only providedon half the total length of the traction means 33, 34, 124. Thereforeapproximately 50% of its length is designed free of spikes.

For example, endless traction means 33, 34, 124 can consist of aflexible belt material, for example of plastic or perforated steel tape(for example 0.2 mm thick), or of cables.

Each belt drive wheel 37, 38 (with teeth or spikes) is driven by a drivemotor 54, 56, whose position and number of revolutions are controlled.Each traction means 33, 34, 124 is interrogated by a sensor 57, 58 inthe area of its lower stringer 46 in order to detect the position of thestart of the spike-free area of each traction means 33, 34.

It is possible to control that the area of the traction means 33, 34,124 having spikes 35 is not in the area of the longitudinal foldinghopper 18 at the termination of the draw-in process, i.e. duringproduction.

By means of the sensor interrogation during the draw-in process of paperwebs 08, 09 it is furthermore possible to control, that several endlesstraction means 33, 34, 124 per longitudinal folding hopper 18 areoperated offset from one another in respect to the spike-free area insuch a way that one, for example the left or the right traction means33, 34, 124, is always in positively locked engagement with the paperwebs or the train to be drawn in.

When employing finite traction means 33, 34, 124, 87 in the area of thehopper flank plates 55, 65, passages 88 are arranged in such a way thatthe spikes 35 project only at times through respective slits in thehopper flank plates 55, 65 in order to move the threaded paper webs, orthe train 140, in the direction toward the hopper folding roller 26, 27.For pushing the paper webs, or the train 140, pressure devices 173, 59,60, fixed in place on the hopper, or the frame, are provided. When usinghopper folding rollers 232 (FIG. 33), which can be divided in the axialdirection and can be driven “spaced apart”, and using a finite tractionmeans 33, 34, 124 with spikes 35, the draw-in process can take place toany desired depth into the folding apparatus.

When drawing in paper webs by use of finite or endless traction means,or individual draw-in devices without traction means (for examplepushing or pulling a locked-together train) by non-positive lockingeffects, or of a train 140, along the hopper insertion plate 21 of thetwo hopper flank plates 55, 65, it can be very helpful to provide ahopper guide device 273, as seen in FIG. 13.

The hopper guide device 273 consists of an upper hopper cover plate 274.It is located opposite the hopper insertion plate 21 and is spaced apartfrom it and can cover it completely or partially. A left, 61, and aright guide device 62 are connected by material contact or by positivelocking with the hopper cover plate 274. They are spaced apart from thehopper flank plates 55, or 65, respectively located opposite them.

These guide devices 61, 62 can, for example, consist of one or severalrods, perforated plates, or a plate with a closed surface. They arerespectively matched to the cross-sectional shape of the hopper flankplates 55, or 65.

For example, the guide devices 61, 62 respectively start shortly abovethe upper end of the hopper flank 22, 23, and respectively terminateshortly in front of the driven hopper folding roller 26, 27 assigned tothem.

The distance of the guide devices 61, 62 from the hopper flanks 22, 23and the hopper flank plates 55, or 65, has been selected to be such, forexample, that spikes 35 can move in the space between the hopper flankplates 55, 65 and the guide devices 61 without the tips of the spikesbeing able to come into contact with them. However, it is also possibleto select an arrangement wherein the tips of the spikes 35 pass throughthe longitudinal grooves or longitudinal slits in the guide plates ofthe lateral guide devices 61, 62 in the vertical direction. To this end,it is then necessary for the lateral guide devices 61, 62 to consist ofone or several rods, which are longitudinally oriented in the runningdirection of the paper web and are spaced apart from each other, betweenwhich at least the tips of the spikes 35 move. It is achieved by thisthat the spiked paper webs, or the train 08, 140, cannot come free ofthe spikes 35.

The just described lateral guide devices 61, 62 can be employed inconnection with paper web draw-in devices by means of the longitudinalfolding hopper 18, when using endless, as well as finite traction means33, 34, 124, 87. But also with paper web draw-in devices by means of thehopper 18 wherein, prior to entering into the hopper folding units 26,27, the individual paper webs to be drawn into the folding apparatus 116via the hopper 18 are connected with each other by resting on each otherwith a material connection (for example by gluing, parchmentizing, coldwelding), positively locked (for example by stapling, sewing,penetration perforating, stapling together tongues), or non-positivelylocked (for example electrostatic train stapling), i.e. are “lockedtogether” with each other.

When employing endless traction means 33, 34, 124 with spikes 35, thedevice operates as follows:

All drive motors 54, 56 are, for example, embodied asfrequency-controlled rotary current motors. For example, it is possibleto provide 4 to 10 drive motors per traction means 33, 34, 124. They arecontrolled as to angle of rotation and number of revolutions and runsynchronously with each other.

The drive motors 54, 56 drive the belt drive wheels 37, 38. At thebeginning of the draw-in process and when several draw-in belts areemployed, one of them is started with a delay in time. It is achieved bythis that when the paper webs, or the train 08, 140, arrives in the web,or train, pre-entry device 111 (FIGS. 1 to 4), they are always picked upand moved by conveying needles 35. The pressure rollers 59 for eachtraction means 33, 34, 124 cooperate in this. Shortly prior to the firstleading paper web start reaching the hopper folding rollers 26, 27, thepaper web 05, 06, 07, etc., or the train 08, 140, is respectively liftedoff the conveying needles 35 by a fork-shaped stripper 69, andthereafter is conveyed to the already turning hopper folding rollers 26,27 by pushing.

Immediately following the end of the draw-in process—i.e. in the courseof the production by means of the longitudinal folding hopper—alltraction means, for example 33, 34, 124, 87 are moved in such a way andfinally stopped, that in the areas of the web, or train, pre-entrydevice 111 and the longitudinal folding hopper 18 there are no longerspikes 35 projecting into the movement path of the webs, or of thetrain, but only the portion of the traction means 33, 34 which no longerhas spikes 35. The spikes 35 are respectively in the area of the lowerstringer 46 of the endless traction means 33, 34, 124. Because of this,it is assured that paper webs, or the train 140, running in the movementpath in the production direction can move through the folding hopper 18unhampered.

With tabloid production intended, respectively a second, separatelydrivable, inner, finite or endless traction means is assigned to eachouter finite or endless traction means 33, 34 per longitudinal foldinghopper 18. The additional “inner” second traction means are respectivelyarranged to be driven phase-shifted, but at the same circumferentialspeed as the “outer” first traction means 33, 34 assigned to them. Thisarrangement has the advantage that longitudinally cut paper webs forcreating tabloid products can also be drawn in via the folding hopper18.

It is also possible to embody the endless traction means 33, 34 forexample as a cable, chain or toothed belt.

The flexible traction means 33, 34, 124 can, however, be designed finiteas already stated above—. In that case, they are moved in guides 88fixed on the frame (FIG. 22), or guides 80 fixed on the folding hopper(FIGS. 11, 12, 13, 21, 22, 24).

Driving chains, for example sleeve-type, toothed or roller chains, butalso toothed belts, are particularly suited as finite traction means 33,34, 124. (When using chains, roller chains movable in a guide device areparticularly suited. Such chains have become known, for example, fromU.S. Pat. No. 5,201,269, FIG. 18).

Here, the roller 70 of the chain-like traction means 33, 34, 124, forexample roller chains (FIGS. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12) are rotatably seated onbolts 71. The respectively left tongue 81 and right tongue 82 of a firstfork 72, and the two tongues 90, 95 of a second fork 73 are alsohingedly seated on the bolt 71. The tongues of the forks 72, 73 arespaced apart from each other in such a way that they can be respectivelypivoted together around the bolt 71. The two tongues 81, 82 of the firstfork 72 are materially connected, for example by welding, with a firstbase element 76, and the two tongues 90, 95 of the second fork 73 areconnected positively locked with a second base element 77. The two forkswith the bolts 71 and the roller 70 respectively form a chain link 78,83, 84. Immediately adjoining chain links 78, 83, 84 are hinged to eachother via respective, oppositely located base element 77, or 76,transmitting pushing and pulling forces, and are positively lockedtogether by means of a turning knuckle 79. The turning knuckles 79 musthave at least a degree of freedom f=2 (universal joint). Naturally,joints of higher degrees of freedom f=3 (for example ball joints) canalso be employed.

Support elbows 86 are fastened, for example welded, preferably on theoutside-located tongues 90, 95, for fastening spikes 35 (FIGS. 8, 9, 10,11, 12). However, the support elbow 86 can also be fastened materiallyconnected (for example spot-welded) to the tongue 90, 95 assigned to it.The support elbow 86 can also be designed as a bevel of the tongue 90,95 itself, as represented in FIGS. 8 to 12. The support elbow 86 withits spike 35 can also be arranged on the outside-located tongues 90, 95pivotable in or against the movement direction of the traction means 33,34, 124 carrying them in order to selectively raise or fold the spikesdown prior to their arrival, for example, in a preselectable area of thehopper insertion plate 21, or of the longitudinal folding hopper 18(FIG. 24). To achieve the same effect, it would be possible to arrangeonly the spikes 35 pivotably (FIG. 25), or so that they can be liftedand lowered on the traction means.

The manner of effecting a positively locked connection of paper webs, orof a train 140, conveyed over the slide plate 11, with the tractionmeans 33, 34, 124, 07 having needle-like spikes 35, is basically thesame with finite or endless traction means. This is represented in FIG.2. Shown there is that the arriving paper webs/train are grasped by thepair of combining roller 03/pressure roller 04 and reach the pickup areaof the downstream connected, driven pair of pressure rollers 59,60/traction wheels 37, 38.

It is important that an insertion wedge consisting of pressure rollers59, 60 and of the finite, or endless conveying traction means 33, 34,124, 87 running in against the pressure roller 59, 60, is created. Oncethe paper web, or the paper webs, or a train 08, 140, get between thepressure rollers 59, 60 and the traction means 33, 34, 124, 87 with theneedle-like spikes 35, the web, or the webs, or the train 140, arepushed by means of the pressure roller 59, 60 on the needle-like spikes35 of the moving traction means 33, 34, 124, 87 down to their base. Thetrain 140, or the webs are now threaded on the traction means 33, 34,124, i.e. connected with them in a positive lock. The traction means nowpull, or push the threaded paper webs, or the train 08, 140, over thelongitudinal hopper 18 into the capture area of the hopper foldingrollers 26, or 27.

In order to be able to move the finite traction means 33, 34, 124, 87,“endless” guides 88 fixed on the frames, or guides 80 fixed on thelongitudinal folding hopper, are provided. Such guides 80, 88 arerepresented as examples in FIGS. 11, 12. They can be designed in theform of a profiled strip 89 (known, for example, from U.S. Pat. No.5,396,982)(FIGS. 1, 11, 12). The guides 80, 88 can, for example, bedesigned as profiled strips 89. The latter essentially consists of aC-shaped profiled element with a base body 91 and lower legs 92 andupper legs 93 extending at right angles therefrom and parallel with eachother. The lower leg 92, as well as the upper leg 93, have a lowerlongitudinal groove 94, or an upper longitudinal groove 96. Bothlongitudinal grooves 94, 96 are used as guides, on the one hand, andalso as a running surface for the roller 70 of the traction means 33,34, 124, 87. The base body 91 has a mounting surface 97 on its top.

With the preferred embodiments represented in FIGS. 13, 22, 30, theguide 80, 88 in the form of a profiled strip, for example (FIGS. 11,12), is designed in such a way and respectively fastened on an undersideof the slide plate 11, the hopper plate 21, hopper flank plate 55, 65,that with a movement of the traction means 33, 34, for example in theform of a toothed belt or a draw-in roller chain 87, their spikes 35project through the longitudinal slit 99, or 98, and can dependablypierce the paper web, or paper webs 05, 06, 07, 12, or the train 08,140.

Finite, as well as endless traction means 33, 34, 124, 87 with spikes 35are suitable for the application of unconnected paper webs, as well asfor several paper webs locked together into a train 140.

As represented in FIG. 13, for example, a longitudinal slit 98 exists inthe hopper plate 21 along its longitudinal axis of symmetry. Thelongitudinal slit 98 starts immediately adjoining the periphery of thehopper insertion roller 16, or also the guide roller 16, and terminatesshortly before or in the hopper projection 24. The slide plate 11 infront of the hopper insertion roller 16 also has one or severallongitudinal slits 99 extending in the running direction of the paperweb. The longitudinal slits 98, 99, for example along the longitudinalaxis of symmetry of the slide plate 11 and hopper plate 21, are requiredif only a single or if three traction means with spikes 35 is/are guidedover the hopper plate 21, or over the slide plate 11. Each of thelongitudinal slits 98, 99 is only slightly wider than the respectivediameter of the spikes 35. Because of this, the spikes 35 are laterallyguided and cannot tilt.

Hopper flank plates 55, 65 can be designed similar to the design of thehopper plate 21 if it is intended to move the spiked paper webs 05, 06,07, 12, or the train 08, 140, along them by means of finite or endlesstraction means 33, 34, 124, 87.

So that the traction means 33, 34, 124 can get directly out of the areaof the slide plate 11 into the area of the hopper plate 21, it isnecessary to get past the hopper insertion roller 16. It is necessarythat it be cut in at this location sufficiently wide and deep by arecess 101 along an imagined extension from the guides of the slideplate 11 to the hopper insertion plate 21. Because of this, properguidance for the traction means 33, 34, 124, for example the draw-inroller chain/toothed belt, is formed even in this short area. As shownin FIG. 23, the recess 101 can be stepped so that a left roller guideface 103 and a right roller guide face 104 for the rollers 70 of thetraction means 33, 34, 124 are provided, the same as in connection withthe profiled strip in accordance with FIGS. 11 and 12.

The hopper insertion roller 16—but also every other roller, for examplethe hopper folding rollers 26, 27, which “must let pass” a finitedrawing means 33, 32, 124, for example in the form of a roller chain, ofa toothed belt—can be embodied to be either in one piece, for examplewith a passage 235 of fixed width 240, or divided—i.e. capable of beingselectively axially pushed apart—(FIG. 33), so that a passage 235 of aselectable width 260 results. In this case a barrel 245 of the roller16, for example a hopper insertion roller, is divided into a leftelement 106 and a right element 107. These elements 106 and 107 arearranged so that they can be axially displaced on or in each other. Atleast one of the two elements 106, 107 of the roller 16, or both, areaxially displaceable and are arranged so that they are seated so theycan be locked in place in their respective positions. In the preferredembodiment of the divided hopper insertion roller 16 represented in FIG.33, the left hopper insertion roller element 106 has a longmulti-splined shaft or pin 108 extending toward the right. Themulti-splined shaft or pin can be embodied as a serrated tooth pin, oralso as a K-profile pin, etc. The multi-splined pin 108 of the leftelement 106 of the hopper insertion roller 16 (pin element 106) dipsinto a bore 109 of a sleeve element 107 of the roller 16. The surfacearea of the bore 109 is profiled in such a way that the multi-splinedshaft or pin and the bore 109 form a tight sliding seat. Duringproduction, the pin element 106 and the sleeve element 107 of the roller16 are moved together so far, that sufficient space for the entry of arotating cutter remains. The elements 106, 107 are maintained in placein this position.

The pin element 106 and/or the sleeve element 107 each can be placed ata distance from each by a coupling supported on the lateral frame, forexample an interlocking switching coupling, for example a claw switchingcoupling, in such a way that a sufficiently wide opening 260 for thefinite traction means 33, 34, 124, 87 is formed at times.

It would also be possible to employ a multi-splined shaft 108 extendingthrough both elements 106, 107. The multi-splined shaft 108 would beseated at both ends in respective lateral frames so that it would berotatable and driveable, for example by a position-controlled motor.

Because of the employment of the above described endless, or finitedrawing means 33, 34, 124, 87, which respectively have needle-likespikes 35, it is therefore possible in an advantageous manner tointroduce, without manual intervention, one or several paper webs, or atrain 140, composed of several paper webs, via the longitudinal foldinghopper 18 at least as far as the driven hopper folding rollers 26, 27,which grip them when the gap has been appropriately set. The hopperfolding rollers 26, 27 either push or pull the gripped combined train140 further into the folding apparatus 116,

With this embodiment, the movement of the paper webs, or of the train140, via the longitudinal folding hopper 18 takes place by means of aninterlocking connection—for example by threading on the spikes 35—of thepaper webs, or of a train 140, with the traction means 33, 34, 124, 87.

Interlockingly maintained in this way on one or several traction means33, 34, 124, 87, the paper webs/train 140 reach the “catch area” ofupper 155, 165 and lateral guide devices 61, 62 (FIGS. 1, 13), which arearranged spaced apart from the hopper insertion plate 21 and the hopperflank plates 55, 65 and are embodied to be flat or rod-shaped. Theseguide devices have the task to “deflect” the moving paper webs, or thetrain 14, around the two hopper flanks 22, 23 of the longitudinalfolding hopper 18 and to guide them/it along the inner guide faces 75,85 of the lateral paper guide devices 61, 62 until they/it finallyreach(es) at least the draw-in area of the driven hopper folding rollers26, 27. For this reason, the lateral guide devices 61, 62 terminateshortly ahead of the surface area of the hopper folding roller 26, 27assigned to it.

The hopper folding rollers 26, 27 can be of the same construction as theinsertion roller 16, i.e. they can be capable of being pushed apartaxially in the area of the movement paths of the traction means 33, 34,124 (FIG. 33). When using a finite draw-in means 33, 34, 124, 87 withspikes 35 and with hopper folding rollers 26, 27, which can be movedapart to form a “gap” and can be moved spaced apart, it would bepossible to pull the paper webs, or the train 140, by an interlockedconnection with the spikes 35 through the area of the hopper foldingroller 26, 27, for example up to the transverse cutting unit of atransverse folding unit. The guides for the traction means upstream anddownstream of the inlet into the hopper folding rollers 26, 27 can beautomatically moved in such a way that, when the hopper folding rollers26, 27 are axially moved together (operating position), no interferencewith the running of the train 140 by the guides is possible.

Thus, the employment of a finite traction means 33, 34, 124 in rail-likeguides 80, 88, 89, 94, 96 makes it possible to also pass through“obstacles”, for example 16, present in the provided movement path ofthe traction means 33, 34, 124, in that a fixed or adjustable passage235 is provided.

In this connection, it is advantageous to terminate the rail-like guide80, 88, 89, 94, 96 at the height of the passage 235 shortly before the“obstacle”—for example an insertion roller 16 or hopper folding roller26, 27-, and to continue it afterwards directly following the“obstacle”. Thus, it is possible to move through the “obstacle”.

It may be necessary following the end of the draw-in process to remove,for example, a part of the rail-like guide 80, 88, 94, 96, out of theprovided movement path, or to move it partially out of it in anotherway, upstream or downstream of the “obstacle”. This means that themovement path is “cleared” over a part of the rail-like guide. This isvery appropriate, for example, if the movement path of the tractionmeans 30, 33, 124 is provided within the barrel length (for example,half the barrel length). The position of the movement path, for exampleon one-half of the barrel length, would be advantageous in that theperfect and assured draw-in of the train 140 through the gap between thehopper folding rollers 26, 27 is made possible. However, underproduction conditions, a fixed guidance over a defined length would be ahindrance because the running train 140 might touch the rail-like guide.

Among the options of “clearing” would be, for example, the completetemporary removal or pivoting or bending of a partial element of therail-like guide upstream and/or downstream′of the “obstacle”. In thisconnection, it would also be advantageous to embody, for example, theends shortly upstream or downstream of the “obstacle” in atelescope-like manner, or to fasten them to a four-bar linkage.

It is also possible, for example, to conduct a train 140 from a firstlongitudinal folding hopper 18 to a train of a second longitudinalfolding hopper and to place it “on top” of the latter, and thereafter tofeed the two trains placed on top of each other to a transverse cuttingunit, and then to a transverse folding unit, or other units, forexample.

As already stated above, it is possible to provide one or severalendless, or finite traction means 33, 24, 124, 87 with needle-likespikes 35 next to each other. It is also possible to provide endless, aswell as finite traction means 33, 24, 124, 87 along the lateral hopperflank plates 55, 65. When using finite traction means with needle-likespikes guided in guide rails 80, 89, 88, these guides 80, 89, 88 arefastened to the underside of the hopper insertion plate 21, or on theinside of the hopper flank plates 55, 65. The guides 80, 89, 88 areattached in such a way that a sufficient length of the spikes 35 canproject through the slits in the plates 21, 55, 65. If the tractionmeans 33, 34, 124 are not to lead through the operating area of thehopper folding rollers 26, 27, or if no hopper folding rollers 26, 27,which can temporarily move apart in the axial direction for forming a“passage” for the finite traction means, are to be used, the spikes 35of the traction means (endless or finite), which project out of thehopper flank plates 55, 65, must drop into the interior of thelongitudinal folding hopper 18 in the vicinity of the hopper end.

Thus, even when the spikes 35 “drop away” into the interior of thelongitudinal folding hopper 18, it is assured that the threaded paperweb, or webs, or train 140, are further conveyed in the direction of therotating hopper folding roller 26, 27.

Therefore, the invention also makes it possible to draw in individualwebs, which are not connected with each other, at least into therotating hopper folding roller 26, 27, which then grasp them and conveythem on.

Another possibility for drawing in several paper webs, or a train 140,via a longitudinal folding hopper 18 at least far enough until thehopper folding rollers 26, 27 grasp them, is seen to lie within thescope of the invention in that the paper webs, which individually arrivein the direction toward the hopper insertion roller 16, are combinedinto a train 140, i.e. are “locked together”, and are subsequently movedover the hopper.

Such a “locking-together” can be designed as an interlocked connection.Options for interlocking several paper webs with each other into a“locked-together” train 140 could be, for example, clipping together bymeans of staples (FIG. 19), “tacking”, tongue-stitching (FIG. 18),thread-stitching (FIG. 20), and of course also pressing the webs, or thetrains 140, on spikes 35 of movable traction means, such as belts orchains (FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12), cables, toothed belts.Sewing the paper webs together to form a “locked-together” train 140would also be possible.

A further possibility to connect several paper webs with each other,i.e. to lock them together, could take place by a connection of thematerials themselves. In this case, the application of a continuous oran intermittent contact adhesive track, or spraying a contact adhesive(glue) (FIG. 14) on the back of the paper webs, followed by pressingthem together between two rollers, for example 03, 04, is particularlysuitable. Also, beading under high pressure, for example (cold welding),such as represented in FIGS. 15, 16 and 17, would be a possibility ofconnecting the materials, or of locking them together.

It would also be possible to connect several paper webs into a train 140by a frictional connection, i.e. to “lock them together”. For example,this would be possible by use of the so-called electrostaticlocking-together by charging the paper webs with a high-tension d.c.voltage of several thousand Volt, for example. Devices for this arerepresented in FIGS. 13 and 14.

The first method is distinguished by “threading” paper webs, which arenot connected with each other. The principle of the second method is tolock together a plurality of paper webs, at the latest in the area ofthe start of the hopper flanks 22, 23 of a longitudinal folding hopper18, in an interlocked and/or frictionally locked and/ormaterial-connected manner, to form a “locked-together” train 140, and topull or push it in this state into, or only into the direction of thehopper folding rollers 26, 27. In the course of drawing in paper webs(=“locked-together train 140”) connected in this manner, the lateralguide devices 61, 62 are of importance, which are laterally distancedfrom the hopper flank rollers 25, 65 and which cover them totally orpartially. The locked-together “spread out” train 140 first reaches thearea of the start of the hopper flanks 22, 23, for example along thehopper flank plate 21 (FIG. 13, FIG. 1). In the course of its furthermovement in the direction toward the hopper projection 24, thelocked-together train 140 meets with the inside surfaces of the lateralguide in the form of the lateral guide devices 61, 62.

The lateral guide devices 61, 62 are located at a distance (for example5 cm) opposite the respective hopper flank plates 55, 65. Toward the topthey make a respective transition into the left 155, or right coverplate 165. They cover a wider strip (approximately 10 to 20 cm wide) ofthe hopper insertion plate 21 respectively along the hopper flanks 22,23, starting in the area of the insertion roller 16 and terminatingclose to the wide end of the hopper projection 24. They are spaced apart—for example between 5 and 10 cm —from the hopper insertion plate 21 inorder to guide the paper webs, or the train 140, unhindered into, orthrough the gap between the hopper folding roller 26, 27. The left andright hopper folding plates 55, 65 are connected from near the wide endof the hopper projection 24, so that from there on they form acontinuous hopper cover plate 274. Together with the hopper flank plates55, 65 and the hopper cover plate 274, the lateral guide devices 61, 62constitute the hopper guide device 273 (FIG. 13).

If now the beginning of a paper web threaded on spikes 35 of a tractionmeans 33, 34, 124, or of a locked-together train 140, or of a train 140pushed by other means, arrives in the guide area of the cover plates155, 165, it is moved between the inside of the cover plates 155, 165and the hopper insertion plate 21. The upper cover plates 155, 165prevent the locked-together train 140, or the paper webs placed on topof each other, from being upwardly carried off. Now, in the course oftheir/its further movement, the webs, or the locked-together train 140,laterally meet the inner surface of the guide devices 61, 62 extendingin the direction of the hopper folding rollers 26, 27, and are in thisway deflected around the hopper flanks 22, 23 downward in the directionof the hopper folding rollers 26, 27. By use further pushing movements,the paper webs, or the locked-together train 140, reach at least thecatch area of the rotating hopper folding rollers 26, 27. These hopperinsertion rollers 26, 27 can either already be at a folding distance, orcan also be placed further apart.

They are then placed at the folding distance only after the report ofthe arrival, or shortly before the arrival, of the paper webs, or thelocked-together train 140, between the hopper insertion rollers 26, 27,and then take over the traction of the paper webs, or thelocked-together train 140. When this stage has been reached, if endlessbelt-shaped traction means are employed, these are moved long enough sothat no more spikes are in the area of the longitudinal folding hopper18. When using a finite traction means, for example a draw-in chain or atoothed belt with spikes, whose guidance is provided underneath thehopper insertion plate 21, it is moved out of the area in which, at alater time, the paper webs, or the train 140, will move at higherspeeds, so that the relevant area is “free of spikes”. Anotherpossibility would be to flip over, retract, or the like, the spikes 35prior to their entry into the area of the hopper insertion plate 21, orother areas in which the train 140, or the paper webs, will move duringproduction, so that they can no longer be pushed into the paper webs, ortrain, moving above them. It is also possible to lift the entire guidedevice off the hopper insertion plate in this way.

A selection of devices will be described in what follows, by which aninterlocked connection of the individual paper webs to form a train ispossible, wherein the interlocked connection by the preferredembodiments described in what follows should take place no later than inthe area of the start of the hopper flanks 22, 23:

1. The traction means 33, 34, 124 in the form of belts, chains, cablesor other designs in a finite or endless form have spikes 25 (FIGS. 5 to12).

2. The individual paper webs 05, 06, 07, 137, 138, 127, 133, 134, 139are connected with each other by staples in a longitudinal direction toform a train 140 (FIG. 19), i.e. locked together. For this purpose, anupper driven staple closing cylinder 199 with a staple closer 200, and adriven lower stapling cylinder 201 operating together with it, areprovided in the area of the slide plate 11, but prior to the insertionroller 16. A wire feed 202 to the stapling cylinder 201 is provided on across bar fixed in place on the frame. A staple is formed by thecooperation between a staple forming disk 204 and the wire feed 202,which is taken along by the stapling cylinder 201. At the end, itpenetrates the paper webs and is closed by the staple closer 200. Inthis way, the individual paper webs are locked together into a train140. It is possible to provide several stapling devices 198, 80 next toeach other over the width of the paper web.

3. By use of so-called tongue-stitching (FIG. 18). One or severaltongue-stitching devices 206 are provided for this purpose in the areaof the slide plate 11. Essentially, this tongue-stitching device 206consists of an upper driven stamping die cylinder 208 and a lower drivenmatrix cylinder 207 cooperating with it. The stamping die cylinder 208has a plurality of stamping dies 11, which are fixed. The stamping dies211 work together with matrix recesses in the matrix cylinder 207. Aplurality of paper webs are fed to the tongue-stitching device 206. Amutual three-sided cut by use of the stamping dies 211 in cooperationwith the matrix cutout 209 is performed in these paper webs placed ontop of each other. The “tongues” 212 created in this way in the paperwebs are free in the moving direction of the train or web, while theycan be folded downward in their base portion. The tongues 212 are pushedinto the matrix cutout 209 in such a way that they retain this fold atleast so long, until they thereafter come between two spaced-apartplates, the guide plate 214 arranged above the paper webs and fixed inplace on the frame, and the guide plate 213 arranged underneath thepaper webs.

The punched-in tongues 212 are permanently bent around their base byapproximately 180° between the bending plate 213 and the guide plate 214and are hooked together in this way. This occurs in particular if thetongues have the shape of a clover leaf.

4. By, for example, thread-stitching (FIG. 20)

A thread-stitching device, for example a thread-sealing device 178 isarranged, for example, in the area of the slide plate 11 upstream of theinsertion roller 16. The thread-sealing device 178, which is known perse, is arranged partly above and partly inside the slide plate 11. Inthe preferred embodiment, the needle drive 179 is arranged below theslide plate 11. The needle drive takes place synchroneously with thespeed of the incoming paper webs 05, 06, 07, 137, 138, 139, 141, 142, orof an incoming already put-together train 08. Such a device is describedin DE 195 23 812 A1. A plurality of carriers 180, 181 of pairs ofneedles, which can be lifted and lowered and respectively have twostitching needles 182, is attached to a rotating support. A plurality oflower holders 183, fixed in place on the frame, is provided at regularintervals in the slide plate 11 in an area, in which heat sealing ispossible. Each of these holders 183 has bores 180, 185, whose distancefrom each other and whose diameters are matched to the stitching needlesof the needle carrier 181. Two counter-holders 184, fixed in place onthe frame and arranged one behind the other in the running direction ofthe paper web, are provided at an appropriate spacing above therespective bores 180, 185 of the lower holders 183, fixed in place onthe frame. The counter-holders 184, fixed in place on the frame, havecutouts on the left and the right, into which the left or the rightstitching needle 182 can be moved. A heatable heat-sealing device 187 isprovided, spaced apart in the running direction of the paper web, fromthe second counter-holder 184 at an appropriate distance from the slideplate 11, or the holder 83. In the course of the thread-sealing process,two stitching needles 182 push both ends of a piece of threads 190upward through the paper webs, so that a thread clip, which can beheat-sealed, is moved upright along with the web to the heat-sealingdevice 187. There, the leading leg of the thread clip 186, which can beheat-sealed, runs against an incline of the heat-sealing device, and thefirst leg is bent over opposite the running direction of the web. Thetrailing leg of the thread clip 186 follows it and is also bent overagainst the running direction in such a way that it comes to rest on thetopmost paper web. The paper webs are locked together into a“locked-together train 140” by this process, which can be repeated atany arbitrary distances.

Further interlocking possibilities:

The above mentioned locking-together possibilities are only mentioned byway of examples. It is, of course, possible to employ other methods, forexample the sewing together of individual paper webs for the purpose oflocking the paper webs together to form a locked-together train 140.Such methods have become known, for example, in the course of sewingpaper bags together.

In what follows, a selection of devices will be described, by which aconnection of the material of the individual paper webs to form alocked-together train 140, for example, is possible:

1. By the application of a glue (for example a contact adhesive) (FIG.14) to the paper webs 05, 142, 141, 139, 06, 07, 137, 138, aninterlocking connection of the individual paper webs to form alocked-together train 140 is achieved. Here, a glue application, forexample a glue track or a spray application of glue, is applied to therespective reverse sides of the paper webs by glue application devices188, 189, 191, 192, 193, 194, 196, 197. The glue application is selectedin such a way that during the subsequent bringing together of the paperwebs under pressure, respectively one paper web is glued together withthe one following next.

The individual paper webs are moved past the glue application devices188, 189, 191, 192, 193, 194, 196, 197 by paper draw-in devices 127,133, 134, 139, 138, 137, 129 and 128 and receive their application ofglue before they are fed, via their respectively assigned upperinsertion deflection rollers 143 with the associated paper guide rollersand/or the lower insertion deflection rollers 144 to a combiningclamping device, consisting of two rollers, for example the rollers 03and 04. The rollers 03 and 04 exert a pressure on the paper webs nowlying on top of each other, so that they become a sufficientlylocked-together train 140. The rollers 03, 04 are provided as drivenrollers and, in addition to their function of pressing the paper webs oneach other, they can be used as a transport function of thelocked-together train 140 in the direction toward the insertion roller16, and further via the longitudinal folding hopper 18 and finally intothe hopper folding rollers 26, 27.

2. It is possible to use a connection of the material of the individualpaper webs by beading (cold welding) (FIG. 15).

A device is represented in FIG. 15, which is suitable for connecting thematerial of respectively two paper webs to form a locked-together train140. A driven lower anvil roller 161 is provided for this purpose, whichis operated together with a driven hammer roller 162. The anvil roller161 and the hammer roller 162 are arranged in such a way that they canbe brought into contact with each other in a transverse slit of theslide plate 11. The anvil roller 161 has a hardened exterior and issmooth. The hammer roller 162 is relatively narrow and has a hardenedbeaded surface. It is driveably seated on a front striker bar 167 and arear striker bar 168. The striker bars 167, 168 are seated in a guide163 and can be raised and lowered. A controllable work cylinder 164 isused for this. By use of a pneumatic striker unit 164 (for example apneumatic work cylinder), the hammer roller 162 is abruptly knockedagainst respectively two paper webs on the anvil roller 161. A force of200 kiloponds per 50 mm of hammer roller width is achieved. The beads169, as shown in cross section in FIG. 15, act on the two paper webslocated between the anvil roller 161 and the hammer roller 162 in such away that they are permanently connected with each other in the manner ofcold-welding. This method of cold-welding two webs of material isemployed, for example, when producing coffee filters. The drivemechanism of the hammer roller 162 is represented in FIG. 16.

A device will be described in what follows, by use of which it ispossible to achieve the form-locking connection of the individual paperwebs to form a locked-together train 140 (FIGS. 13, 14):

1. Paper webs 05, 142, 141, 08, 06, 07, 137 and 138 are drawn in overpaper guide rollers (not represented), assigned to the insertiondeflection rollers 143, 144, by means of paper draw-in devices 127, 133,134, 139, 128, 129, 131, 132, known per se, to which they are attachedand which are guided over insertion deflection rollers 143, 144especially assigned to them. The axes of rotation of the associatedpaper guide rollers and the insertion deflection rollers are congruentwith each other. The paper webs are drawn in sufficiently far so thatthey are pulled through an insertion gap between two roller-shapedcharge electrodes 145 and 150, which are arranged above each other, canbe charged with a voltage, and are spaced apart from each other. Shortlyafter passing this insertion gap, the paper webs are released by theabove mentioned paper draw-in devices respectively assigned to them. Theindividual paper web draw-in devices are deflected at approximately theheight of the connecting line between both centers of rotation of thecharge electrodes 145, 150 by use of deflection rollers respectivelyassigned to them. In this case, several, i.e. a number corresponding tothe number of the paper draw-in devices, upper deflection rollers 146,or lower run-out deflection rollers 147 are provided.

Each of the charge electrodes 145 and 150 is driven synchroneously withthe web draw-in speed (FIG. 14). They are electrically insulated againstthe lateral frames in which they are seated, and their distance fromeach other, which cannot be zero, can be adjusted. The roller-shapedcharge electrode 145 has positive high-tension d.c. voltage, and thecharge electrode 150 is charged with negative high-tension d.c. voltage,for example. The positive and the negative high-tension d.c. voltagesare generated by a d.c. high-tension voltage generator 149. It has apositive high-tension connecting line 151 for the positive voltage and anegative high-tension connecting line 152 for the negative voltage. Theconnectors 151, 152 are connected with the connectors of the chargeelectrode (roller) 145, or charge electrode (roller) 150. By chargingthe two charge electrodes 145, 150 with a high-tension d.c. voltage, thepaper webs, which are located under pressure in the insertion gapbetween these two rollers 145, 150, are “locked-together”electrostatically to form a train 140. The train 140 locked together inthis way is conveyed from the rollers 145, 150, for example by drivenrollers, which are seated, electrically insulated, in the lateralframes, to a combining roller 03 and the pressure roller 04 actingtogether with it, for example. These rollers compress the train 140between each other. The rollers 03 and 04 can, of course, also becorrespondingly connected to the high-tension d.c. voltage source 149.The conveying rollers 03, 04 with the locked-together train 140 pressedbetween them can push it via the folding hopper 18 into the rotatinghopper folding rollers 26, 27. It is, however, also possible toadditionally employ traction means 33, 34, 17, 87, 144 with the spikes35 for transporting the electrostatically locked-together train 140. Itis also possible to provide driven incised pressure rollers 59, 60 forpressing the train 140 down—as represented in FIG. 2 in connection withthe endless traction means. Prior to or after electrostatic lockingtogether, they push the locked-together train 140 into the spikes 35 ofa finite or endless traction means—for example a chain as represented inFIGS. 11, 8, 9 and 10 —which retain it in this way.

All elements of the longitudinal folding apparatus, such as theinsertion roller 16, the hopper insertion plate 21, the hopperprojection 24, the driven hopper folding roller 26, 27, as well as thetwo hopper flank plates 55 and 65, and also the lateral guide devices 61and 62, arranged spaced apart from the hopper flank plates 55 or 65,etc., are seated, electrically insulated from the metallic lateralframes 117, 118 of the folding apparatus 116.

As already stated, the longitudinal folding hopper 18 can be equippedwith a hopper insertion device 273 with guide devices 61, 62, and hopperflank plates 55, 65 cooperating with them, a hopper cover plate 274,etc. When using an electrostatically locked-together method, they areall appropriately connected with the d.c. high-tension source 149. It isobvious here that the charges of the guide devices 61, 62 and the hopperflank plates 55, 65 are appropriately matched to the charges of theuppermost, or lowermost paper web of the locked-together train 140 inorder not to generate counterproductive effects.

As was described above, several paper webs can be “locked together”, atleast temporarily, to form a train 140 by frictional, material orinterlocking connection. The minimum demands made on such a“locking-together” is that the paper webs resting on top of each otherare kept together in such a way that their ordered placement on top ofeach other is not removed for a sufficient amount of time, or that theycannot move far apart so far that the frictional, material orinterlocking connection between them fails. Thus, it is desired that thepaper webs resting on each other can only move together in the runningdirection of the paper webs. This mutual movement in the direction ofthe paper web can be caused—as explained—by use of traction means havingspikes 35 and moving into the longitudinal folding hopper 18. Forexample, it is possible to arrange the traction means in such a way thattheir spikes 35 project at times out of a longitudinal slit 98 along thefolding hopper insertion plate 21 into the path of movement of the paperwebs, or of the locked-together train 140.

The paper webs, which are connected with each other by a frictional,material or interlocking connection (locked together), or the train 140,threaded on the spikes 35 are conveyed in this way in the directiontoward the rotating hopper folding rollers 26, 27 until they are finallygrasped by them or, “threaded” on the spikes 35 of the traction means,they are further conveyed by them through the gap between the two hopperfolding rollers 26, 27. With the hopper folding rollers 26, 27 spacedfar apart (i.e. with a large gap between them), the hopper foldingrollers 26, 27 need not necessarily rotate during the draw-in process.This is one option for moving the paper webs, or the train 140.

It is, of course, necessary to see to it that, as soon as the draw-inprocess is completed, the spikes 35 have left the movement path of thetrain 140 over the hopper insertion plate 21.

A further option lies, for example, in providing driven transportrollers 03, 04 upstream of the longitudinal folding hopper 18, betweenwhich the paper web, or paper webs, or the locked-together train 140,—regardless of the method—are compressed. Using a force-lockingconnection, i.e. frictional connection, the paper webs, or the train140, are pushed in the direction toward the longitudinal folding hopper18 until at the end they come, via the hopper insertion plate 21,between the rotating hopper folding rollers 26, 27. The latter graspthem and then see to continued conveyance of the paper web/webs, or thetrain 140. From the rotating hopper folding rollers 26, 27, the paperweb/webs, or the train 140, finally arrive in the folding apparatus 116which, for example, has the cutting rollers and finally the transversefolding cylinder group, as well as possibly downstream connectedlongitudinal folding device.

To return again to the hopper insertion device 273 (FIG. 13):

Its guide devices 61, 62 not only cover the hopper flank plates 55, 65,but preferably also the hopper insertion plate 21 at a defined width atthe top and sides and at a sufficient distance so as not to interferewith the possible movement of the train 140, or of the paper webs.Within the scope of this description, these covering elements are calledupper right cover plate 165, or upper left cover plate 155 and arerepresented in this way (FIG. 13). The cover plates 155, 165 preferablystart over the insertion roller 16 and are slightly upwardly offset, sothat a sort of insertion hopper for the incoming paper webs, or train140, is respectively formed. The paper web, or webs, or the train 140,reach the inlet area of the cover plates 155, 156 by being pushed orpulled. Their inner distance over the hopper plate width has beenselected in such a way that it is sufficiently greater than the width ofthe paper webs which must be maximally processed, plus any possiblelateral deviation (plus/minus 10 cm) to the left or right from theirideal run-in path. Finally, the paper webs, or the trains 140, arrive inthe area of the cover plates 155, 165. Since, corresponding to thegeometric shape of the longitudinal folding hopper 18, the entire paperguide device 61, 62 tapers in the direction toward the hopper insertionrollers 26, 27, in the end the sides of the paper web/webs, or the train140, laterally push against the guide device 61, 62 on the inside.Because the upper cover plates 155, 165 prevent the paper web/webs, orthe train 140, from yielding toward the top, they are deflected over thehopper flanks 22, 23 of the longitudinal folding hopper 18 and finallyreach the space between the respective guide devices 61, 62 and theinner hopper flank plates 55, 65. The paper web/webs, or the train 140,cross this space until, at the end, their start reaches the insertiongap of the rotating hopper folding rollers 26, 27 and is grasped andconveyed on by them.

Preferred embodiments of the arrangement of the guide devices for thetraction means with spikes will be described in what follows (FIG. 21,FIG. 22), by use of which it is possible to pull or push a paperweb/webs, or a locked-together train 140, threaded on spikes 35, overthe longitudinal folding hopper 18, with our without a hopper insertiondevice 273, until in the end it reaches the insertion gap between thedriven hopper folding rollers 26, 27 and is grasped and conveyed on bythe hopper folding rollers 26, 27. The traction means employed for thiscan be in the form of belts, chains, cables or toothed belts.

One option is, for example, to fasten the guide devices on the undersideof the hopper insertion plates 21 and to let the spikes 35 projectthrough a longitudinal slit 89 upward into the movement path of thepaper web, or the trains 140, on the hopper insertion plate 21 (FIG.22). In this case, the guide device is endless, i.e. the traction meanscan be moved around in it.

The other option is to arrange an endless guide device for the justmentioned types of traction means above the hopper insertion plate 21and to move the traction means in such a way that their spikes 35 aremoved while projecting from above the hopper insertion plate into thelongitudinal slit 89 and are moved in it into the vicinity of the hopperprojection 24 and then moved away in an upward direction (FIG. 21).

Thus, the spikes 35 of the traction means enter a gap, or groove in thehopper insertion plate 21 from above (FIG. 21). A guide rail support220, for example made from an aluminum sheet, is provided for this. Theguide rail support 220 extends, for example, along the center line ofthe longitudinal folding hopper 18 at right angles to the hopperinsertion plate 21. A guide element 80, in the form of a profiled strip89 as the guide 80 for the traction means, is arranged over the entirecircumference of the narrow side of the guide rail support 220. Theindividual profiled strips, or guides 80 are arranged in such a way thatan all-around path (movement path) along the circumference of the guiderail support results. The guide 80 can be designed in the wayillustrated in FIG. 11. In this case, a roller chain 87, as representedin FIGS. 8, 9, 10 and 11, is particularly suitable as the tractionmeans. However, a toothed belt would also be suitable as the tractionmeans. The traction means, consisting, for example of a toothed belt ora draw-in roller chain 87, can be endless or finite. When using atraction means of finite length, it is a few centimeters (for example 5cm) shorter than the length of the path in the longitudinal groove 94 ofthe guide device.

A plurality of rpm- and position-controlled electric motors 85, whichrun synchronously with each other, is provided as the drive mechanism ofthe draw-in means, and engage the chain links, or the teeth of thetoothed belt, by means of their pinion teeth. The drive mechanisms, areof course, also synchronized with the paper web speed with which thepaper webs, or the locked-together train 140, are to be transported overthe hopper insertion plate 21 during the draw-in process. The spikes 35of the traction means are oriented in such a way that in the area of thehopper insertion plate 21 they point in the direction of the latter andproject out of the guide 80, 89. During the draw-in process, the drivemotors 85 continuously drive the draw-in means with its spikes 35, sothat spikes 35 move continuously from the start of the longitudinalfolding hopper 21 practically to its end in the vicinity or inside thearea of the hopper projection 24.

The guide rail support 220, with its guide 80, 89 and the tractionmeans, can be placed against and away from the hopper insertion plate 21by suitable means, for example by a rocker, fixed on the frame, or byretractable and extensible guide rods 221, 222, one end of which isfastened on the guide rail support 220. Each of the guide rods 221, 222is guided in guide blocks 223, or 224, fixed in place on the frame. Thesecond ends of the guide rods 221 and 222 are each connected with pistonrods of actuation means 218, 219. Pneumatic or hydraulic two-way valvescan be provided as the actuation means, for example. Differentpossibilities for drive mechanisms are of course also conceivable, forexample an electric motor drive by toothed racks.

The contact pressure which the guide rail support 220 exerts via theguide 80, 89 on the hopper insertion plate 21, and therefore on thepaper webs, or the locked-together train 140, moving on it, can becontinuously adjusted by the adjustable pressure of the fluid. Prior toand during the draw-in process of the paper webs, or of the train 140,over the hopper insertion plate 21, the guide rail support 220, andtherefore the guide 80, 89, can be brought into a predeterminabledistance from the hopper insertion plate 21. For this purpose, the guiderail support 220 can be moved toward and away from the hopper insertionplate 21. Because of this, it is selectively possible to let the spikes35 of the moving draw-in means enter the paper web, or thelocked-together train 140, continuously, or not, and to move it in thisway in an interlocked manner in the direction toward the hopperprojection 24, or not. Once arrived there, the spikes 35 respectivelyleave the paper web, or the train 140, in an upward direction becausethe direction of movement of the spikes extends in a different directionthan that of the paper web, or the train 140. Strippers prevent thepaper web, or the train 140, from being taken along in thereverse-running movement path of the moved traction means with thespikes 35. In order to be used as strippers, the two cover plates 155,165, for example, could be moved so close together in the vicinity ofthe exit point of the spikes 35 out of the paper webs, or thelocked-together train 140 (for example in the vicinity of the wide endof the hopper projection 24), that an excessive lifting of the paperwebs, or of the train 140, perpendicularly in respect to the hopperinsertion plate 21 would no longer be possible.

The first meeting of the spikes 35 with the paper web, or the train 140,to be drawn in can, for example, take place on the insertion roller 16(FIG. 21). A ring-shaped recess 101 (FIG. 23) is provided for this inthe insertion roller 16 along the movement path of the spikes 35 throughthe surface of the latter.

To prevent the downward yielding of the traction means, for example theroller chain, during the threading process, a support block 120, whichitself is supported on the guide 80, 89, is provided in the area of thefirst meeting of the tips of the spikes 35 with the paper webs, or thetrain 140, in the guide rail (as represented in FIG. 11), for allchain—or toothed belt—like traction means described in thespecification. It is thus prevented that an excessive lateral tiltingmovement of the traction means, for example the roller chain 87, takesplace in the critical moment of entering the paper webs, or the train140.

At the termination of the draw-in process, the actuating means 218, 219are acted upon by an appropriate electrical control device in such a waythat the guide rail support 220 is brought to a distance sufficientlyfar away from the hopper insertion plate 21 that it is assured thatthere is no longer a possibility of the spikes 35 coming into contactwith the paper webs, or the train 140.

In connection with longitudinal folding hoppers 18 where spikes 35piercing the paper webs, or the locked-together train 140, from aboveare not desired or possible (FIG. 22), an arrangement 171, 225 isprovided which makes it possible that the spikes 35 pierce the paperwebs, or the locked-together train 140, being guided over the hopperinsertion plate 21 from below (FIGS. 22, 24). These arrangements 171,225 basically consist of an “endless path” 94, 102 in guides 80, 88, 89,which makes it possible for a traction means 33, 34, 124 with spikes 35,for example in the form of a roller chain 87 or a toothed belt, to bemoved “all around” in this guide 80, 88, 89, so that spikes 35 arecontinuously brought into the movement path of the paper webs, or thetrain 140, on the hopper insertion plate 21, which then pierce (thread)the paper webs, or the train 140, and hold them/it in this way in aninterlocked connection until they dive away again. The traction means33, 34, 124 with the spikes 35 can be designed to be endless or finite.A plurality of, for example electric, motor drive mechanisms 85 isprovided along the entire movement path of the traction means for movingit. These consist, for example, of respective motors 205 with anover-mounted pinion 210, or chain wheel. When using a roller chain 87,for example, it runs up on the chain wheel 210 in just such a way thatits teeth enter between respectively two rollers. With finite tractionmeans 33, 34, 87, the distance between respectively two drive mechanisms85, which are arranged directly next to each other and act on thetraction means, is shorter, viewed along the movement path, than thelength of the traction means.

When using a finite traction means, for example a roller chain 87 ortoothed belt, the length of the traction means will preferably be almostjust as long (for example 5 cm or less) as the length of the closedendless movement path, i.e. of the work path 110 (FIG. 22), or of thework path 110 plus the storage path 115 (FIG. 24). It is achieved bythis that, if it is so desired, spikes always extend out of the hopperinsertion plate 21 in spite of the finite traction means, and the paperwebs, or the train 140, being fed to the longitudinal folding hopper 18can be continuously threaded on spikes 35. When the draw-in process isnow terminated, it is assured that no more spikes 35 are present in theportion of the work path 110 which constitutes the movement path of thepaper webs, or of the train 140, along the hopper insertion plate 21: Toachieve this, the finite traction means 33, 34, 124 with the spikes 35,for example, is wholly or partially removed from the work path 110, inwhich the traction means moves during the draw-in process, and is movedto a storage path 115 (FIG. 22).

In the preferred embodiment in accordance with FIG. 22, the paths 110,115, 135, 230 each extend in guides 80, 89 in the form of profiledstrips 88, fixed in place on the frame, or in their interior, which arerepresented by way of example in FIGS. 11 and 12.

The direction of movement of the traction means 33, 34, 124 in its guide80, 88, 89 takes place on its side facing the hopper insertion plate 21in the production direction. The work path 110 makes a reversal in thedirection toward the hopper interior in the vicinity of the hopperprojection 24. A guide arc 227 (FIG. 22, FIG. 24) near the hopperprojection is used for this. From there, the return movement path of thework path 110 runs straight ahead for a distance until it undergoes adeflection around a guide arc 228 remote from the hopper projection andterminates in the forward movement path of the work path 110 along thehopper insertion plate 21 (FIG. 22, FIG. 24). In the preferredembodiment of FIG. 22, the return movement path 135 of the work path 110on its course from the guide arc 227 near the hopper projection to thestart of the guide arc 228 remote from the hopper projection coincideswith the forward movement path 230 of a storage path 115, for example.

The forward movement path 230 of the storage path 115 leaves the commonpath in the vicinity of the arc 228 remote from the hopper projectionand leads, via an upper arc 229 of the storage path, into a straightsection, the return movement path 235 of the storage path 115, 135, 230.The end of the return movement path 235 terminates at a lower arc 231.The latter is connected to the common path 115, 135, 230 by a lower,remotely controllable shunt 105. A remotely controllable upper shunt 100is arranged in the upper area of the common path 115, 135, 230. Its jobis to deflect a finite traction means selectively out of the common path115, 135, 230 to the right into the work path 110, or to the left intothe storage path 115 (FIG. 22).

The switchable upper shunt 100 has the task of inserting the tractionmeans with its spikes 35 from the return movement path 135 of the workpath 110, 135, 230 into the remaining portion of the storage path 115.During this insertion process, the shunt 100 is switched in such a waythat it assuredly prevents a deflection of the arriving start of thetraction means into the arc 228 remote from the hopper projection of thework path 110. Thus, the storage path 115 now extends, viewed from thisshunt 100, in a guide, which extends from the shunt 100 over an upperarc 229 and a straight section to a lower arc 231. From the lower arc231 through the electrically remotely controllable shunt 105—whicheither opens or blocks the path—into the common path 115, 135, 230, thelower shunt 105 blocks the way, therefore the traction means cannot getfrom the path 115 into the common partial path 240 of the paths 115,135, 230.

On the other hand, with only the storage path 115 blocked by the lowershunt 105, the traction means can enter from the return movement path135 of the forward movement path 110 into the common partial path 240 ofthe work path 110. The length of the storage path 115, including thecommon partial path 240, is slightly greater than the total length ofthe traction means.

A plurality of traction means drive mechanisms 85 are provided along thepartial path 240—which, with the appropriate shunt position, is aforward moving part of the storage path 115—(FIG. 22, FIG. 23).

A further arrangement 171 for transporting paper webs placed on top ofeach other, or a “locked-together” train 140, over the slide face 41and, if required, over the left or right hopper flank plate 55, 65 ofthe longitudinal folding hopper 18 is represented in FIG. 24 and will bebriefly described in what follows.

The guide rail support 225 with the guide 88, 89, already describedabove, and with the endless or finite traction means 33, 34, 124 isprovided. It is arranged underneath the hopper insertion plate 21. Theguide 88, 89 is embodied to be endless, i.e. an all around movement ofthe traction means 33, 34, 124 along the contours of the guide railsupport 225 is possible. The guide rail support 225 can be moved towardand away from the hopper insertion plate 21 from below. In the preferredembodiment, two linear guides, each consisting of respective guide rods221, 222 fastened on the guide rail support 225, guide blocks 223, 224,each fixed in place on the hopper, actuating means 218, 219, for exampletwo-way valves, whose piston rods are interdockingly connected with theassociated guide rod 22, are provided.

A plurality of traction means drive mechanisms 85, for moving thetraction means 33, 34, 124, are provided on the guide rail support 225,whose drive wheels 210 act from below, for example interlockingly, onthe traction means 33, 34, 124 and move them.

The hopper insertion plate 21 has a longitudinal slit 98, 99 perarrangement 171 for transporting paper webs placed on top of each other,or a locked-together train 140.

It is slightly longer than the upper straight portion 172 of the guide88, 89, which is located directly opposite the underside of the hopperinsertion plate 21. For example, in that case its width is slightlygreater (for example 3 mm) than the width of the straight portion 172 ofthe guide 88, 89 if it is intended to move the guide 88, 89 respectivelyin, or even through the longitudinal slit 88, 89.

If only spikes 35 need to be moved through the longitudinal slit 98, 99,the longitudinal slit 98, 99 can, of course, also be narrower(approximately 5 mm wider than the diameter of the spikes 35).

The guide rail support 226 in its entire length can be moved by anappropriate action on the actuating means 218 out of a rest positionremote from the longitudinal hopper into a work position close to theelongitudinal hopper and maintained there, or vice versa.

In the position of rest, the guide rail support 225 is so far removedfrom the underside of the hopper insertion plate 21 that the outermostends of the tips of the upright standing spikes 35 respectivelyterminate at least in the interior of the longitudinal slits 98, 99.Because of this, the slide face 41, or other faces at which thearrangement 171 is provided, is free of the sharp tips of the spikes 35.The paper webs, or the locked together train 140, therefore cannotbecome damaged, although the traction means 33, 34, 124 can be moved inthe longitudinal slit 98, 99 with the spikes 35 upright.

When the guide rail support 225 is in its “work position”, the spikes 35project with the maximally greatest “work length” out of thelongitudinal slit 98, 99 and can thread paper webs, which are fed in ontop of each other, or a locked-together train 140.

Threading is made easier by means of a pressure device 173 with drivenpressure rollers 59, 60 which can be raised and lowered and have arecess 63 all around (FIG. 7, FIG. 23). In the work position, they aremoved against the slide plate 11, or the slide face 41 of the hopperinsertion plate 21 in such a way that they just do not touch the plates11, or 21, for example are at a distance of 1 mm.

The pressure device 173 should be provided at a short distance from thepoint of exit 174, starting at which the respective spikes 35 on theirpath project out of the longitudinal slit 98, 99 at the maximallypossible “threading length”. The pressure rollers 59, 60 push thearriving paper webs, or the train 140, sufficiently far onto the spikes35 until they have passed the element 68 on them which prevents the“threaded” paper webs, or the train 140, from easily being lifted offthe spikes 35.

The paper webs, or the train 140, are moved by the traction means 33,34, 124 in this interlocked state in the direction toward the hopperfolding rollers 26, 27.

However, the just described arrangement 171 in accordance with FIG. 24can also be operated with traction means 33, 34, 124 which do not havespikes 35.

In this case, the traction means 33, 34, 124 preferably have a blunt orstructured transport surface 176 facing the paper webs, or the train140. Surface 176 can be finite or endless and can consist of a toothedbelt, belt or V-belt. The transport surface 176 should have acoefficient of friction as high as possible with respect to paper. Fordriving the traction means 33, 34, 124, at least one, and howeverpreferably a plurality of traction means drive mechanisms 85 areprovided on the guide rail support 225 (FIG. 23, lower portion), whosedrive wheels are respectively simultaneously used as abutments for thepressure device(s) 173, which is/are arranged so they can be placedagainst or moved away from the traction means 33, 34, 124 (FIG. 2, FIG.23, upper portion).

In its work position, the guide rail support 225 has been moved in thedirection toward the plate 21, or 11, sufficiently far so that thespike-less traction means 33, 34, 124—viewed perpendicularly in respectto its longitudinal axis 177—projects upwardly from the longitudinalslit 98, 99.

The arrangement 171 can be adjusted in such a way that the tractionmeans 33, 34, 124 project with a fraction of, or with its entirethickness upwards out of the longitudinal slit 98, 99 (FIG. 23, lowerportion).

A pressure device 173, which, for example rotates, presses with apresettable force from above —at least in the area of the highest pointof the drive wheels 37, 38, 210—against the upper structured surface 176of the traction means 33, 34, 124. Rotatable, for example mechanicallydriven, pressure rollers 59, 60 with or without a recess 63 all aroundare particularly suited as the pressure device 173.

If now the paper webs or a train 140 come between the pressure element59, 60 and moving traction means 33, 34, 124 (FIG. 23), the paper webs,or the train 140, are/is clamped between them by a force-locked(frictional) contact and, if required, with the interposition of one orseveral pressure device(s) 173, pushed at least into the “grasping area”of the hopper folding rollers 26, 27.

In the described preferred embodiments of FIGS. 21 and 24, the tractionmeans 33, 34, 124 with the raised spikes 35 are fastened on the guiderail support 225, which are arranged so they can be moved back and forthin straight guide devices 223, 224, for example. However, other drivemechanisms would also be possible for moving the guide rail support(s)225 toward the hopper insertion plate 21, or the slide plate 11, or awayfrom it. For example, seating of the guide rail support 225 at thehopper, or the frame, would be possible by means of seated rockers.

An arrangement can also be used in which the guide rail supports 225 arenot movably arranged. In this case it is necessary to predetermine thatthe ends of the spikes 35 cannot enter into the movement path of thepaper webs placed on each other, or of the locked-together train 140.The following solutions are proposed for this, for example:

a) the spikes 35, which are directly or indirectly fastened on thetraction means 33, 34, 124, are arranged so they can be raised andlowered (FIG. 25),

b) the spikes 35, which are directly or indirectly fastened on thetraction means 33, 34, 124, are themselves arranged so they can beraised and lowered in respect to the traction means. The spikes 35 canbe arranged so that in respect to the traction means movement direction,or the traction means longitudinal axis 117 of the traction meanssupporting them, they can be moved vertically or obliquely upward ordownward, and also to the right or left (laterally), for example alsobendably. In particular, it is also possible to arrange the spikes 35,or portions of the spikes 35, on the traction means 33, 34, 124 so theyare pivotable and or tiltable or bendable in and/or opposite thetraction means movement direction.

By use of the steps described under a) and b), it will be achieved thatthe ends of the spikes 35 preselectably project or do not project intothe movement path of the paper webs, or of the train 140.

An example of an arrangement 233 for the lifting and lowering of spikes35 fastened on the traction means 33, 34, 124 is represented in FIG. 25.In this example, the finite or endless traction means 33, 34, 124 isembodied as a roller chain 87, for example. It is represented anddescribed in FIGS. 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, for example. However, incontrast to the arrangement of the spikes 35 on the traction means 33,34, 124 in a non-movable way described there, in this preferredembodiment (FIG. 25), they are arranged so they can be lifted andlowered—preferably perpendicularly in respect to the longitudinal axis177. Here, the smooth shaft 234 is movably seated in bores 236, 237 of aU-shaped holder 238. A bearing 239, for example U-shaped, for a rotatingroller 241 is fastened, fixed against relative rotation, at the lowerend of the shaft 234. A spring 242, for example a compression spring, isclamped onto the shaft 234 between the lower leg of the holder 238 andthe bearing 239. It has the task of pushing the drive mechanism 214 ofthe spikes 35, for example the roller 241, against a control face 243 ofa cam support 244, if no restricted guidance, by use of an interlock ofthe rollers 241, is provided.

In the preferred embodiment in accordance with FIG. 25, the cam supportconsists of a spindle 244, which can be pivoted around its longitudinalaxis. Its cross section is in the form of a section of a circle(segment). The surface extending along the chord and length of thespindle 244 (surface over the chord 246), as well as the surfaceconsisting of the arc of the section of the circle and the length of thespindle 244 (surface over the arc 247), are used as control faces. Ifthe control roller 241 runs over a low control radius, i.e. on the“surface over the chord” 246, the spikes 35 are each pulled back by theforce of their compression spring 242 sufficiently far that none of thespikes 35 projects out of the longitudinal slit 98 (FIG. 25).

If the spindle 244 is rotated in a clockwise or counterclockwisedirection, the control rollers 241 run on the “surface over the arc”247, i.e. on the large control radius. This has the result that thespikes project at their full work length out of the longitudinal slit98.

It is also possible to provide rails which can be lifted/lowered andhave control faces 243 in place of the spindles 244.

As already briefly mentioned above under a), there are further optionsfor not letting the tips of the spikes 35 temporarily extend into themovement path of the paper webs, or the train 140, along a plate 11, 21,55, 65.

A possibility of this is represented in FIGS. 26 to 32.

In this case, the spikes 35 are arranged so they can be tilted (pivoted)in the direction of the longitudinal axis 177 of the traction means 33,34, 124, 87.

A roller chain 87 is used as the traction means 33, 34, 124. A hinge 254with a mobility f=1 is provided on a lateral face of the support elbow86 pointing into the direction of movement of the traction means, forexample a roller chain 87, and is fastened, fixed against relativerotation, on the fork 73. A two-armed pivot lever 248 is seated withrestricted pivotability on the hinge. A first (right) 249 and a second(left) lever arm 251 of the pivot lever 248 respectively terminate in afirst 252 and second arresting spring 253, each bent downward in anS-shape. An arresting pin 256, which is overmounted on a bracket 90 ofthe fork 73, is provided in the pivot range of the pivot lever 248. Itstask is to fix the end setting of the pivoting of the spikes 35 in thetransport direction and to simultaneously serve as a suspension pin forthe right (first) arresting spring 252 (FIG. 28, FIG. 29).

The left (second) arresting spring 253 only becomes effective with thespikes 35 completely raised. In this case, the left (second) lever arm251 rests on the support elbow 86, and at the same time the left(second) arresting spring 253 extends around the lateral face of thesupport elbow 86 pointing opposite the movement direction of thetraction means (roller chain 87). Because of this, the spikes 35, whichare supported on the support elbow 85, are maintained in the uprightposition and cannot tip over opposite to the draw-in direction 255 ofthe traction means (roller chain 87) in the work path 110 (FIG. 26, FIG.27).

The movement of the traction means 33, 34, 124—for example a rollerchain 87—with the upright extending spikes 35 in the draw-in direction(forward moving direction) 255 along the work path 110 is represented inFIGS. 26 and 27. During the draw-in process, the spikes 35 projectthrough the longitudinal slit 98 of the plate 11 or 21 into the path ofmovement of the paper webs, or of the train 140, to be transported. Aportion of the guidance along the work path 110 (see FIGS. 30, 22, 21)is represented in both drawing figures.

The traction means 87 moving in the draw-in direction 255 (forwardmoving direction) with the spikes 35 “tilted over” in the draw-indirection 255 are represented in FIGS. 28, 29. They are at least pivotedhere so far that their pointed ends terminate inside the longitudinalslit 98, 99 of the plate 11, 21. They are moved in this position in thework path 110 by the traction means (roller chain 87).

A preferred embodiment of an arrangement 257 for pivoting and/or raisingspikes 35 is represented in FIGS. 31, 32. Their action is based on thefact that it is possible to selectively exert a force in or opposite tothe movement direction of the spikes 35. For this purpose, bristlesand/or lamellas 258 are fastened on the outer surface of thecircumference of a disk 259. The disk 259 can be driven in a clockwiseor counterclockwise direction—by means of an electric motor 261, forexample —and is seated in a contact device 264. The contact device 264is used to move the bristles, or the lamellas 258, into the movementpath 135, for example the return movement path of the traction means,here the roller chain 87, or to remove it from there. The contact device264 can, for example, be embodied as an eccentric displacement devicefixed in place on the hopper, wherein the motor 261 is fixedly seated onthe eccentric device, and the disk is rotatably seated in a bore of theeccentric device. In the preferred embodiment schematically representedin FIGS. 31, 32, the motor 261 and the disk 259 are seated in a bearingin the free end 266 of a rocker 263. A second end 267 of the rocker 263is rotatably seated on a pin 268, fixed in place on the frame or thehopper.

An actuating unit 269, which is supported on the hopper, or the frame,acts between the two ends 266, 267 of the rocker 263 and has the task topivot the rocker 263 in such a way that the bristles, or lamellas 258,can be selectively moved into and out of the movement path, for examplethe return movement path 135 of the returning spikes 35. The actuatingunit 269 is embodied as a two-way valve, for example.

If the movement directions 271 of the traction means 87—and thereforethat of the spikes 35—and the direction of rotation 272 of the disk 259with the bristles, or lamellas 258, proceed in the same direction (asrepresented in FIG. 31), the spikes are tilted over. For tilting themover, the spikes 35 which, for example, are hanging vertically, arepulled by the traction means 87 into the operating range of the rotatingbristles, or lamellas 258, and arrive between them. Since thecircumferential speed of the bristles, or lamellas 258, is greater thanthe movement speed of the spikes 35, the spikes 35 are pivoted oppositethe movement direction 272 of the bristles, or lamellas 258, i.e. thespikes 35 tilt over. This pivoting process of the spikes 35 is stoppedwhen the first arresting spring 252 with the first lever arm 249 comesinto contact with the arresting spring 256, or extends around it, and istherefore held fast on it.

In this tilted-over position of the spikes 35 on the traction means,they are transported on along the return movement path 135 and the workpath 110.

If only tilted-over spikes 35 are present in the work path 110, i.e.along the movement paths of the paper webs to be drawn in, or of thetrain 140, the draw-in device is stopped. For determining the positionof the spikes 35 (upright or tilted over), sensors are respectivelyprovided at the start and end of the work path 110, for example, whosesignals are conducted to an appropriate electric evaluation device.

If the tilted over spikes 35 are to be raised again on their way to thework path 110, this can be performed, for example, in the mannerrepresented in FIG. 32.

The traction means, here the roller chain 87, with the laid down, ortilted-over spikes 35, moves along the return movement path 135, forexample.

The arrangement 257 for pivoting and/or raising the spikes 35 is placedin such a way that the bristles, or the lamellas 258, project into thereturn movement path 135 of the tilted-over spikes 35. The direction ofrotation of the bristles, or lamellas 258, is opposite the direction ofmovement of the traction means 33, 34, 124, 87. The circumferentialspeed of the bristles, or lamellas 258, can be greater, equal to, orless also zero —than the movement speed of the traction means with thespikes 35 to be raised in the return movement path 135.

The arrangement 257 is placed in such a way that the envelope radius ofthe bristles/lamellas 258 enters several millimeters (for example 5 mm)into the movement path of the outer ends of the tilted over spikes 35(FIG. 32).

Because of the resistance which the bristles/lamellas 258 offer to thetips of the spikes 35, a force is exerted on the moving spikes 35 whichis of such a size that the spikes 35 pivot around the hinge 254 and arebrought into the desired raised, for example vertical, position. I.e.the spikes 35 which have passed the bristles/lamellas 258, are in the“working position” (FIG. 32, left portion).

If the spikes 35 are no longer to be tilted, or no longer to be raised,the arrangement 257 is turned away in such a way that no morebristles/lamellas 258 enter into the movement path 135 of the tips ofthe spikes 35.

The bristles/lamellas 258 can be coated with a grinding agent, forexample corundum. Because of this, it is possible to sharpen the tips ofthe spikes 35 in a simple way in the course of “passing through” thebristles/lamellas 258. Thus, the arrangement 257 can be additionallyemployed as a sharpening device for the tips of the spikes 35.

To improve sliding and to make guidance of the paper webs, or of thelocked-together train 140, along the inner surfaces of the guide plates61, 62, 155, 165, 274 of the hopper guide device 273 easier, air can beblown against the inner surfaces. For this purpose, all or a portion ofthe guide plates 61, 62, 155, 165, 274 can be provided with a pluralityof blowing nozzles, for example flat nozzles, aimed into the spacebetween the oppositely located guide plates, for example 62-65, 61-55(FIG. 21) and/or the hopper running plate 21. Their blowing direction isoriented, for example, in the draw-in direction of the paper web, or thetrain 140. The blowing nozzles have blowing openings and adjoining guidefaces which are inclined obliquely downward in the direction toward theinner faces of the guide plates 61, 62, 155, 165, 274 and are borderedby a transition area in the form of an arc of a circle. The guide facesare provided with radial edges enclosing an opening angle (beta) between20° and 50°. The distance between the blowing nozzles is fixed by adivision t. The ratio of this division t and the width BL of the blowingnozzle stream at a distance from the blowing opening is one to two, i.e.tBL=1 to 2.

Blowing nozzles operating in accordance with the “hydrodynamic paradox”are preferably employed.

In place of, or in addition to the above described blowing of compressedair, a further method and device for improving the sliding and to easethe guidance of the paper webs, or of the locked-together train 140,along the inner surfaces of the guide plates 61, 62, 155, 165, 274 ofthe hopper guide device 273, can be provided. It consists in chargingselected individual, or all guide plates 61, 62, 155, 165, 274 withmechanical oscillations, so that they vibrate. To this end, a completehopper paper guide device 273, or individual, or several guide platesconnected with each other by the same material or interlockingly, arefastened by means of oscillating elements 276 directly or indirectly,for example via insulators 148, on the lateral frame 117, 118. Theoscillating elements 276 can be designed as resilient connectingelements or connecting joints, for example. Particularly suited arerubber spring elements embodied as so-called rubber-metal elements. Avibrator 277, or beater 277 is provided for creating the oscillations ofthe selected guide plates, or of the entire hopper guide device 273,which is/are respectively supported on the lateral frame 118, or 117,and is connected in a vibration-transmitting manner to the selectedguide plates, or the entire hopper guide device 273.

Low-frequency or higher frequency vibrators (oscillation frequency of,for example, from 375 to 47000 oscillation per minute) can be employed.“Low-frequency” is understood to mean up to 1500 oscillations/minute,and “higher frequency” oscillations of more than 3000oscillations/minute. The vibrators 227 can make adjustments of theflyweight to the desired flyweight, or oscillation range, or thefrequency can be constant, but also changeable.

Electric exterior vibrators, compressed air turbo-vibrators, compressedair ball vibrators, compressed air roller vibrators, compressed airturbine vibrators, flyweight vibrators with a pneumatic and hydraulicmotor drive, compressed air piston vibrators and compressed air intervalbeaters are suitable for use as vibrators.

Preferably the vibrator 227 is only switched on during the draw-inprocess.

While preferred embodiments of a roller and a device for guiding paperwebs in accordance with the present invention have been set forth fullyand completely hereinabove, it will be apparent to one of skill in theart that various changes in, for example, the type of printing pressused, the overall width of the paper web or webs and the like could bemade without departing from the true spirit and scope of the presentinvention which is accordingly to be limited only by the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A longitudinal folding device comprising: amachine frame; a longitudinal folding hopper supported by said machineframe, said longitudinal folding hopper having a hopper insertion plateand at least first and second hopper flank plates, said at least firstand second hopper flank plates receiving paper webs electricallyinterlocked in a paper web train passing through said longitudinalfolding hopper; a hopper guide device supported by said machine frame,said hopper guide device including an upper cover plate and left andright guide devices, said upper cover plate and said left and rightguide devices being spaced from, and enclosing said hopper insertionplate and said first and second hopper flank plates of said longitudinalfolding hopper; a high voltage source having different polarities, saiddifferent polarities being connected to said longitudinal folding hopperand to said hopper guide device, said different polarities connected tosaid longitudinal folding hopper and to said hopper guide device beingmatched to charges applied to adjacent webs of the electricallyinterlocked paper web train for supporting said paper web train betweensaid longitudinal folding hopper and said hopper guide device; andelectrically insulating means supporting said hopper guide device onsaid machine frame to electrically insulate said hopper guide devicefrom said machine frame.
 2. The longitudinal folding device of claim 1wherein said longitudinal folding hopper has a hopper projection.
 3. Thelongitudinal folding device of claim 1 further including first andsecond hopper folding rollers, said hopper folding rollers beingrotatably supported by, and electrically insulated from said machineframe.
 4. The longitudinal folding device of claim 1 further includingmeans electrically interlocking said paper webs, said paper webelectrical interlocking means being located before, in a direction ofpaper web travel, said longitudinal folding hopper.